Grain-meter



(No Model.)

G. B. HOWLAND.

GRAIN METER.

No. 400,849. PatentedApr. 2, 1889;

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N. PETER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I3.' I'IOIVLAND, OF PONTIAC, ILLINOIS.'

GRAIN-M ETEF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 400,849, dated April 2, 1889. i

Application filed June 16, 1888. Serial No. 277,336. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. HowLAND, of Pontiac, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a simply-constructed and perfect-acting grainmeter which is automatic and capable of occupying suoli a small space that it can be used either alone or in conjunction with thrashingmachines, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my invention. Fig. Qshows a side elevation of the same opposite that shown in Fig, l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

Reference being had to the drawings, A represents a box-shaped frame, preferably wholly open at top and bottom and partially open at two sides. Resting upon the top edges, and preferably secured thereto, is a hopper, B, the sides of which incline or dip toward the transverse center, where it is provided with a transverse slot or opening, a, through which the grain is fed to the measuring devices below.

The measuring devices consist, Jrincipally, of a cylinder, C, which is divided longitudinal] y and centrally by a diametrical partition, l), into two corresponding compartments, c and c', of equal capacity. Each of these compartments has an opening, d and CZ', respectively, immediately next the partition-wall, and so located with reference to one another that the opening CZ of compartment c will come diametrically opposite the opening d of compartment c. Cylinder O is journaled by the usual means at points intersected by the plane passing through the vertical center of opening c of the hopper in the horizontal cross-bars c c, which cross the openings in the open sides of frame A. When in proper position for the grain from the hopper to flow therefrom through the openings d or d of either compartment c or c', the partition-wall b will be inclined toward the side on which said openingis located. The grain, therefore, when it has accumulated in sufficient quantity to overcome theresistance of the checking devices applied to the cylinder, weighs so heavily on the one side that said cylinder revolves until opening d of the compartment just filled reaches a position diametrically opposite that which it occupied when receiving the grain. In this position the grain in the compartment discharges from the opening into whatever kind of a receptacle desired. At the same time the grain is being received into one compartment it discharges from the other.

In order to check the revolution of the cylinder at such a point that one of the openings will be immediately under and in position to receive grain from the hopper, I secure to one end thereof the studs D, at the same distance from the center and diainetrically opposite each other, and I journal in suitable lugs, f, secured on the cross-bar e, a graduated scalebeam, E. The longer arm of said beam is provided with a longitudinally-adjustable weight, g, and the opposite end is stepped, and is just long enough to be struck by one of the studs D, thus stopping the cylinder. 'lhese studs D are so located with reference to the openings of the grain-compartments that when stopped by reason of their striking the beam the openings of the compartments will come in the relativo position above alluded to.

IVhen the grain has iilled one compartment to the limit of a bushel or any other measure it is desired to register, (the weight g having been previously adj usted,) the stud will press with such force as to oscillate the beam E and escape past it.

In order to prevent any recoil of the cylinv der when the stud D strikes beam E, I project from the end of said cylinder opposite to that from which stud D projects the two studs F. These studs are an equal distance from the center of revolution of said cylinder, diametrically opposite each other, and are located with reference to the stop or check G, which 9 is pivoted to the frame A, as shown, so that the serrations of said stop or check permit the revolution of the cylinder in the direction of the beam, but prevent any reverse motion thereof.

IOO

As the impetus which the cylinder will have acquired when it is revolved is sc great that considerable jar results when the stud strikes the beam, it is preferred to provide some braking devices which will gradually increase the resistance as the cylinder approaches the stopping-point. This I accomplish by a springbrake, h. This consists of a spring the ends of which are secured t0 the under side of the cross-bar. e, and which loops down a suitable distance, so as to be met by said stud and brushed sidewise as the cylinder approaches its stopping-place. Instead of this brake I can provide a pneumatic brake, which consists of bellows H, constructed similar in principle to the bellows used in toys to produce a crying noise-that is, having two backs which are hinged together at one end, and one of which is provided with a valve, which as said backs separate opens to permit the ingress of air, and which closes or partially closes when the backs approach to permit the expulsion of air very slowly.

The bellows-brake is preferably located near the upper left-hand corner of the frame A, and is so secured to the frame-work of the open side thereof that the upper back projects out horizontally on about the plane of the periphery of the cylinder, and the under back is hinged to the inner end of said upper back, and is at such a plane that as the openings of the grain-compartments reach their respective positions for receiving and discharging the grain suitable studs or projections from the end of said cylinder strike against the under back of the bellows and cscillate it upward, thus compressing the air within and braking the cylinder.

Instead of existing as independent devices, the pawl and bellows might be made one by securing the pawl longitudinally to the under surface of the under back of said bellows in position to be engaged by the studs F.

The stop or check and the brakes ldescribed both might be dispensed with, as also the checking devices, and the cylinder be so weighted that it would require one bushel of grain, or any given quantity, to revolve it. I much prefer the use of these different appliances, however.

In order to prevent the grain from the hopper from iiowing and scattering all over the cylinder while the same is revolving, I provide the mouth of the opening a with a border of brushes, k, the bristles of which project downward to the circumference of the cylinder and bear thereon while said cylinder is in motion. Thus the grain is prevented from scattering, and what does fall from the hopper while the cylinder'is in motion is brushed into the opening of the approaching compartment.

What I claim as new isl. The combination, in a grain-meter, with an intermittent revolving cylindrical grainmeasure divided into two compartments, each of which is provided with openings, and studs secured to and proj ecting from the end of said measure, of a pneumatic brake consisting of a bellows, as described, which is struck and compressed by one of said studs when said measure approaches the position where the openings of said compartments will receive and discharge grain, as set forth.

2. The co1nbination,in a grain-meter,with an intermittent revolving cylindrical grain-m easure divided longitudinally and centrally into two compartments, and studs projecting from the ends of said cylindrical measure, of an oscillating beam pivoted in suitable manner parallel to the plane of the adjacent end of the measure, so that studs will alternately strike the shorter eid thereof, and a stop or check having a serrated edge pivot-ed contiguous and parallel with the other end of the measure and engaged alternately by the studs on the same, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a grain-meter, the combination of a revolving cylindrical measure having studs projecting from its end or head, a pivoted weighted beam having an arm in position to be struck by the said studs, and a pneumatic brake having a serrated stop or check surface with which projections on the cylinder engage, substantially as described.

GEORGE B. I'IGWTLAND.

Witnesses: Y

PORTER B. CooLIDcE, FRANK D. THoMAsoNA 

